mini-bulbs by the pond...plus the unknown Chaenomeles, which now turns out to have lovely yellow-white flowers..........
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Merry May
long gap, because of course there's been far too much to do in the garden for there to be time for writing. after the usual pause where big bare bits appear between the spring bulbs, everything has suddenly surged up and it all looks rather good. of course it helps not to be working............all the plants are clearly benefiting from the attention. there have been some lovely warm days.......last year was relentlessly cold and wet until the end of May, but it's been a lot milder this time although interestingly some things, like the Oriental poppies, the organic rose and the paeonies, seem to me to be later than last year. none are out yet. the bulbs are almost finished apart from the bluebells, so the ones in pots have gone into the gaps, the woodchip is ready to go down at the front, and we await the arrival of the geraniums from Oxfam. Carrie has ordered a huge bag of compost which is all sitting ready for the empty pots............
..........already we're eating home-grown salad leaves. the sorrel has done extremely well and a little clump of salad burnet reappeared in the ex-herb bed............plus, wouldn't you know, the lovage............oh well, it's decorative and it gives the snails something to eat. however, so far despite some wet weather, they've been rather good and not eaten anything vital. potatoes are in and sprouting; onions are shallots ditto, fennel coming back to life, four kinds of mint going.............we're finished off the alpine wall and dressed it with shell sand which looks very nice. our veronica from Cornwall is in its own pot with some home-grown antirrhinums.......we haven't seen the variety "Georgia Blue" anywhere else which may mean it won't grow here, but i've bought a couple of other veronicas because the flowers are so pretty. an artichoke sits in the big blue pot in splendour............the tomatoes are out, though looking a bit pinched and unhappy..........even the Tesco basil looks very healthy, the Thai basil also doing very well, and the purple basil from last year's seeds. the runner beans are in the hanging gardens of Trinity making friends with John and Fiona's honeysuckle. clematis in full flower at the moment, and first Cystis flower out today. no sign of the bergamot, it may be a casualty......or the corydalis which i suspect has become a juicy snail snack.
...........poor old Australian tree fern completely bone-dry so i've re-potted it with moss and a good soak and put it beside the mini-pond which contains water mint, irises and a Bloody Dock.......the LOTV still sulking in the pot doing absolutely nothing, so maybe i need to give up and move them to SQ............
.........bought loads of plants at Redhall open day, endearingly chaotic but cheap...........including the Flora Incognita which is now part of the Mum Memorial Garden at Carrie's..........some red Lysimachia "Firecracker" which i fully expected the snails to eat but maybe the shell mulch is working..............the coffee grounds and Germolene seem to be keeping them off the canary creeper so far.................
.................most of the seedlings are now at their final destinations, apart from courgettes just in and some more flower seeds..........they were right about the lemon catmint being slow to germinate, two seedlings out of 100 is not a great percentage i feel........okra still alive but not looking terribly enthusiastic.......chili pepper plants look healthy tho and need potting on, and the passiflora beginning to take off, unlike its mate outside..........
........oh, and of course the Marvel of Peru................well, they have grown to a great height so i've just re-potted them, kept most indoors but one out to see how it gets on, with tomatoes and a runner bean................morning glories are staying inside and happliy climbing up the bathroom blind, but i've got some more that can go in the hanging gardens once they've sprouted...........
..........already we're eating home-grown salad leaves. the sorrel has done extremely well and a little clump of salad burnet reappeared in the ex-herb bed............plus, wouldn't you know, the lovage............oh well, it's decorative and it gives the snails something to eat. however, so far despite some wet weather, they've been rather good and not eaten anything vital. potatoes are in and sprouting; onions are shallots ditto, fennel coming back to life, four kinds of mint going.............we're finished off the alpine wall and dressed it with shell sand which looks very nice. our veronica from Cornwall is in its own pot with some home-grown antirrhinums.......we haven't seen the variety "Georgia Blue" anywhere else which may mean it won't grow here, but i've bought a couple of other veronicas because the flowers are so pretty. an artichoke sits in the big blue pot in splendour............the tomatoes are out, though looking a bit pinched and unhappy..........even the Tesco basil looks very healthy, the Thai basil also doing very well, and the purple basil from last year's seeds. the runner beans are in the hanging gardens of Trinity making friends with John and Fiona's honeysuckle. clematis in full flower at the moment, and first Cystis flower out today. no sign of the bergamot, it may be a casualty......or the corydalis which i suspect has become a juicy snail snack.
...........poor old Australian tree fern completely bone-dry so i've re-potted it with moss and a good soak and put it beside the mini-pond which contains water mint, irises and a Bloody Dock.......the LOTV still sulking in the pot doing absolutely nothing, so maybe i need to give up and move them to SQ............
.........bought loads of plants at Redhall open day, endearingly chaotic but cheap...........including the Flora Incognita which is now part of the Mum Memorial Garden at Carrie's..........some red Lysimachia "Firecracker" which i fully expected the snails to eat but maybe the shell mulch is working..............the coffee grounds and Germolene seem to be keeping them off the canary creeper so far.................
.................most of the seedlings are now at their final destinations, apart from courgettes just in and some more flower seeds..........they were right about the lemon catmint being slow to germinate, two seedlings out of 100 is not a great percentage i feel........okra still alive but not looking terribly enthusiastic.......chili pepper plants look healthy tho and need potting on, and the passiflora beginning to take off, unlike its mate outside..........
........oh, and of course the Marvel of Peru................well, they have grown to a great height so i've just re-potted them, kept most indoors but one out to see how it gets on, with tomatoes and a runner bean................morning glories are staying inside and happliy climbing up the bathroom blind, but i've got some more that can go in the hanging gardens once they've sprouted...........
Monday, April 10, 2006
Garden Room
either the garden is taking over the house, or the house is taking over the garden...........the dining-room repainted has now become the garden room and intensive care unit. there has been much re-potting and tidying, and it looks rather nice. by one of those serendipitous things, i found exactly the kind of chair i wanted upstairs in the spare room...........no idea where it came from but it looks just right. the windowsill is now kitted out with trays, and full of seedlings. the plan is to keep the summer bulbs indoors until it's very much warmer..........i've gone wrong before by putting things out too soon, spring it may be, but it's still pretty cold. however.....the freesias are off and running....and the Marvel of Peru.............how could anyone resist growing something called Marvel of Peru? - but i've never actually managed to see what they look like. there is a begonia bulb and a lily bulb sulking in pots, hopefully to provide some indoor flowers..........and the giant begonia is now in an enormous china pot and has had several more babies in the process.
...........raising seeds for two gardens is quite an undertaking and a bit experimental...........but only the gypsophila have completely failed to make it. everything else has at least come up, so far so good..........my tomatoes are doing brilliantly and even the chillies came up after a long pause.........
..........outside the bulbs are blooming................it looks rather nice and more things that i thought were dead are surging into life...........catmint for the cats to chew and throw up on the carpet........and certainly something happening where the lemon balm was..........the black peppermint is beginning to sprout, and even the Himalayan poppy turns out not to be defunct after all..............no sign of the corydalis though, i'm sure it was around by this time last year.........the yellow buttercup "Brazen Hussy" is doing its thing and spreading like mad..........i've planted the mystery Hopetoun rose and moved the Choisya, this is its last chance...........put in some Kaffir lilies and a spirea from Mum's garden.........moved the hebe from under the rose and the lavender too............planted bog iris in the mini-pond........two ivies in pots for contrast...........both the chaenomeles are doing well, and the new clematis was not destroyed by slugs after all, or at least not yet............
............veg-wise the onions are in, and the potatoes are chitting in the downstairs toilet. the salads are sprouting nicely in the raised bed, and amazingly, the Hanging Gardens of Trinity have started to sprout again of their own accord!.............planted garlic beside the mystery rose, and the strawberry is also still alive............
...........raising seeds for two gardens is quite an undertaking and a bit experimental...........but only the gypsophila have completely failed to make it. everything else has at least come up, so far so good..........my tomatoes are doing brilliantly and even the chillies came up after a long pause.........
..........outside the bulbs are blooming................it looks rather nice and more things that i thought were dead are surging into life...........catmint for the cats to chew and throw up on the carpet........and certainly something happening where the lemon balm was..........the black peppermint is beginning to sprout, and even the Himalayan poppy turns out not to be defunct after all..............no sign of the corydalis though, i'm sure it was around by this time last year.........the yellow buttercup "Brazen Hussy" is doing its thing and spreading like mad..........i've planted the mystery Hopetoun rose and moved the Choisya, this is its last chance...........put in some Kaffir lilies and a spirea from Mum's garden.........moved the hebe from under the rose and the lavender too............planted bog iris in the mini-pond........two ivies in pots for contrast...........both the chaenomeles are doing well, and the new clematis was not destroyed by slugs after all, or at least not yet............
............veg-wise the onions are in, and the potatoes are chitting in the downstairs toilet. the salads are sprouting nicely in the raised bed, and amazingly, the Hanging Gardens of Trinity have started to sprout again of their own accord!.............planted garlic beside the mystery rose, and the strawberry is also still alive............
Friday, February 17, 2006
Spring clean
is is less cold this year or am i getting tougher? since i met Carrie i have certainly acquired more outdoor clothing...........and the imperative of having two gardens to do instead of one has forced us out early..................what's so nice is to see the signs of growth already, even so early in the year. a lot of things that i thought were dead have turned out not to be after all, clipping and clearing the dead vegetation reveals little shoots at the base. i did very little tidying before the winter...........wildlife garden you know.........and was rewarded by Dorcas bringing in a frog (alive), and by visits from a handsome great spotted woodpecker. the birds are quite spoiled and have a luxury circuit between me and my neighbours with plenty of courses to choose from.........the old apples have been a great success with the blackbirds, but they're not so sure about the turkey stock.........
since i don't have any notes from this time in the year before, i don't know if it always looks as bare as this. apart from the bulbs there are huge gaps, and it's hard to remember how big some of the plants will get later and resist the temptation to throw more things in. and of course, there are never enough bulbs. however............i've stocked the problem bit by the lilac with Christmas roses and a Christmas box............last year it just became a mass of weeds and grass and i need to keep a closer eye on it this time..........
..............turning scientific, i tested the soil for the first time ever.............with some interesting results. the right-hand bed turns out to be acid, which may explain why some things have done well there and some haven't. i've stuck in a pyracantha, given the vinca a severe haircut because i don't want it swamping everything, tidied up the ceanothus which looks very nice but didn't flower last year. the Himalayan poppy may be dead as apparently they only flower once, but i've put in the ones i grew, which look absolutely nothing like it and may turn out to be a lovingly cultivated weed. the oriental poppies are still going strong, but there are still some gaps......it's early yet though so worth waiting to see what else is in there.........
Catmint Corner looks a bit scruffy but has benefited from a tidy.............no sign of the lemon balm, but it may still be alive............the hemerocallis is flourishing already, i remember it did this last year then grew absolutely huge in the summer and filled that whole space........
............let us not forget the carefully constructed and beautiful new veggie beds at the bottom through the arch...............one lone occupant in the form of the bronze fennel so far, but great plans............
Hopetoun's search-and-rescue corner has provided a mystery chaenomeles, a white currant, and a mystery rose. i've just put in another chaenomeles at the front but it's a bit of an experiment, hopefully one of them will make it. one of the pot clemati has gone to SQ and i've planted the other at the front - again a bit of an experiment. we also rescued a nice wee hebe and a perfectly healthy-looking escallonia for Carrie's garden, plus a mystery variegated bush, we know not wot but it looks quite nice anyway.............
..............plans include the mini-pond and the indoor hydroponic garden........and now that we have our COLD FRAME the sky's the limit............
since i don't have any notes from this time in the year before, i don't know if it always looks as bare as this. apart from the bulbs there are huge gaps, and it's hard to remember how big some of the plants will get later and resist the temptation to throw more things in. and of course, there are never enough bulbs. however............i've stocked the problem bit by the lilac with Christmas roses and a Christmas box............last year it just became a mass of weeds and grass and i need to keep a closer eye on it this time..........
..............turning scientific, i tested the soil for the first time ever.............with some interesting results. the right-hand bed turns out to be acid, which may explain why some things have done well there and some haven't. i've stuck in a pyracantha, given the vinca a severe haircut because i don't want it swamping everything, tidied up the ceanothus which looks very nice but didn't flower last year. the Himalayan poppy may be dead as apparently they only flower once, but i've put in the ones i grew, which look absolutely nothing like it and may turn out to be a lovingly cultivated weed. the oriental poppies are still going strong, but there are still some gaps......it's early yet though so worth waiting to see what else is in there.........
Catmint Corner looks a bit scruffy but has benefited from a tidy.............no sign of the lemon balm, but it may still be alive............the hemerocallis is flourishing already, i remember it did this last year then grew absolutely huge in the summer and filled that whole space........
............let us not forget the carefully constructed and beautiful new veggie beds at the bottom through the arch...............one lone occupant in the form of the bronze fennel so far, but great plans............
Hopetoun's search-and-rescue corner has provided a mystery chaenomeles, a white currant, and a mystery rose. i've just put in another chaenomeles at the front but it's a bit of an experiment, hopefully one of them will make it. one of the pot clemati has gone to SQ and i've planted the other at the front - again a bit of an experiment. we also rescued a nice wee hebe and a perfectly healthy-looking escallonia for Carrie's garden, plus a mystery variegated bush, we know not wot but it looks quite nice anyway.............
..............plans include the mini-pond and the indoor hydroponic garden........and now that we have our COLD FRAME the sky's the limit............
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
how embarrassing
OK, so it isn't rhubarb..............but it's Chinese rhubarb so an understandable mistake.........no wonder it's grown so much, it apparently reaches a height of 6 ft so i think it's going to have to move house at some point...........
...........the new arch looks good and the rose and jasmine appear to be surviving. this is a long period of drought............we refilled the pond yesterday because it was almost empty, and put the log from Hill House in a strategic spot...............some of the thymes etc at the front seem to have died of thirst and the water barrel is very low.............grass in the wild area all yellow..........strawberries ripening nicely and the courgettes have sudenly grown to a massive size, no flowers yet tho..........some of the new things like the veronica and the angel's fishing-rod looking a bit unhappy and requiring more home-made compost, i must say it does look rather nice.......
........we got a free tree at Hopetoun House summer fair.........a rowan to keep the witches away, now planted at the bottom by the bins..........runner beans now moved to hang on the new arch so they can climb up it................
...........the new arch looks good and the rose and jasmine appear to be surviving. this is a long period of drought............we refilled the pond yesterday because it was almost empty, and put the log from Hill House in a strategic spot...............some of the thymes etc at the front seem to have died of thirst and the water barrel is very low.............grass in the wild area all yellow..........strawberries ripening nicely and the courgettes have sudenly grown to a massive size, no flowers yet tho..........some of the new things like the veronica and the angel's fishing-rod looking a bit unhappy and requiring more home-made compost, i must say it does look rather nice.......
........we got a free tree at Hopetoun House summer fair.........a rowan to keep the witches away, now planted at the bottom by the bins..........runner beans now moved to hang on the new arch so they can climb up it................
Sunday, July 17, 2005
10 today!
.........so my birthday present to myself was an arch for the bottom by the compost bins...........not quite sure what's going to go in that bit yet but i've created an entrance.............very hot and humid today, and next door having a garden party, very Homes and Gardens, with a little band and a buffet.......Fiona's 60th apparently............so i put the arch together to the accompaniment of light music and chatter and the sound of champagne corks...........much to my amazement it all fitted together and no swearing was involved..............
............a rose "Compassion" for the base at one side, and a pink jasmine like the one Katty and Mark have for the other.........and some annual climbers till those grow up...........
............was at Klondyke yesterday too, i still feel sick at the thought of their cafe and they don't have a great stock, but i got an Ipomea called "Sweet Caroline" and another wee thyme............and a tropaeolum for the corner by the bins...........
...........sunflowers now taller than me and big brown flowers, more coming...........the Morning Glory had one morning of glory and that seems to be it............
............a rose "Compassion" for the base at one side, and a pink jasmine like the one Katty and Mark have for the other.........and some annual climbers till those grow up...........
............was at Klondyke yesterday too, i still feel sick at the thought of their cafe and they don't have a great stock, but i got an Ipomea called "Sweet Caroline" and another wee thyme............and a tropaeolum for the corner by the bins...........
...........sunflowers now taller than me and big brown flowers, more coming...........the Morning Glory had one morning of glory and that seems to be it............
Monday, July 11, 2005
flaming july
the hottest few days of the year so far..................how relaxing to be able to wander about in not too many clothes, pottering about and pulling the odd weed............i've eaten five strawberries off the three plants, all different flavours, the Elsanta was the sweetest. took Katty and Mark a big bunch of sorrel and chard...........the chard is growing like mad and looks lovely. the sunflowers have shot up and are now eyeballing me in a menacing kind of way, soon they'll be able to look down on the top of my head. bought a variegated vinca for the front in the hope that it will spread.............with the paper down and all the weeds covered, it still looks a bit bare and patchy and could do with some more ground cover............
,,,,,,,,,planted some more thymes and a couple of Pratia in the gravel by the pond..........and put in a new blue grass and angel's fishing-rod in that gap, plus the new veronica divided in two.........
cut down the Himalayan poppy, there is new growth at the bottom and i wonder if it will flower a second time........if i cut the Oriental poppies it will leave a big gap, might need some cheapo annuals.........
.........the pernettya looks to have died and i really should dig it out...........the white Astilbe looks nice and that would give it more room...........
.........courgette plants still growing mightily................morning glory soon ready to flower........tomatoes now have flowers so hopefully fruit soon.........planted the new variegated lavender.............fennel seeds growing apace indoors and should be ready to go out soon.......
,,,,,,,,,planted some more thymes and a couple of Pratia in the gravel by the pond..........and put in a new blue grass and angel's fishing-rod in that gap, plus the new veronica divided in two.........
cut down the Himalayan poppy, there is new growth at the bottom and i wonder if it will flower a second time........if i cut the Oriental poppies it will leave a big gap, might need some cheapo annuals.........
.........the pernettya looks to have died and i really should dig it out...........the white Astilbe looks nice and that would give it more room...........
.........courgette plants still growing mightily................morning glory soon ready to flower........tomatoes now have flowers so hopefully fruit soon.........planted the new variegated lavender.............fennel seeds growing apace indoors and should be ready to go out soon.......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)